I honestly don't know how to start this review. I have been boarding horses since I was 18 years old and I'm 54 now. I have NEVER had an issue at any other boarding facility, but this one place. The owner of Forbes Ranch, Kim, has made this whole experience a nightmare. Let me inform you of what happened to my daughter's horse since she has been at this facility. First, she basically starved our horse and then blamed us by stating it was because of her lowered work schedule and that her weight loss was due to her age. Ginger was 18 years old at the time. I was out of town on business, but called the vet immediately when I came back a month later. Her explanation did not make sense because her top line was gone and the vet put Ginger on a re-feeding program. That program is used for extreme weight loss typically due to starvation, not age or lowered work. It's absurd that her weight came back immediately after starting this program, right? I started buying my own hay because the basic level of trust was gone. She did not even deduct the hay from the board bill every month. It's funny because one of her main arguments is that this is not about the money, but the good of the horse. However, that's laughable because it is ALL about the money for her. She charges $4.50 a day just to keep Ginger in her stall that we already pay for every month instead of turning her out. This is also while Ginger is healing from an injury, so she couldn't go in the dry lot anyways. She also charges $1.50 daily to stir water in her grain during the winter months. It's unprofessional that she gives a boarding contract with a flat fee price and then changes the price by charging additional fees for the most nonsensical things. She doesn't even send you a bill every month over email or break down the amount, but just sends you the number over text instead. I payed less at A show barns when my daughter was competing competitively in California. That is complete insanity! I am not from Missouri and do not know the horse community out here. I was on waiting lists for other facilities in the area, but nothing opened up. It's been very difficult to find a good barn in this area close to our home. Besides that, she demands that you put your horse in a dry lot with other horses. We agreed to that because I hired a trainer to introduce them properly to each other. All was good, but one of the two horses left for 6 months at least. Everyone who has a clue about horses knows that an alpha mare (which Ginger is) will build a bond with the horse left and become protective. But not Kim, she puts the returned horse back in with them immediately. They fight, Ginger gets kicked, and receives a laceration on her leg and additionally re-inured her other leg from a previous injury. Kim did not even inform or ask us about the new horse joining Ginger again until it already happened. She sent us a video over text of it after the fact. Furthermore, she did not reintroduce them properly and we didn't even know or have the time to hire a trainer help again. The vet now states that she can never be ridden again. We are rightfully devastated. Ginger is still only cleared for hand walking. One thing to know about Kim is that she does whatever she wants and informs you after the fact, but finds it preposterous when you get upset, especially after your horse is injured because of her decisions. She told my daughter that she knows what is better for Ginger because she cares more and puts Ginger first instead of what we want to do. The whole purpose of putting the horses in the dry lot is because she doesn't have enough employees to clean the stalls or doesn't want to pay someone to cleaned the stalls twice a day. And then you have to argue with her to even let you clean your own horse's stall. She does not allow you to put shavings in your horse's stall either. She only permits her "green shavings" which are just shavings that are not kiln-dried. I have never been to a facility that doesn't allow you to have as many shavings as you want, specifically when your horse is healing from an injury. She charges you for shavings, but doesn't even let you know the amount she is charging you for because there are no bags to go off of. This boarding facility bosses you to the point of misery. You have to defend and debate with her about anything you want to do with your horse. It's exhausting! I totally understand and support rules at a facility to keep everyone safe. But DO NOT tell me how to take care of my horse that I pay everything for. This is the most vet bills we have EVER received compared to all the years we've had Ginger and when she was showing competitively every weekend. Never in my life have I been so disappointed in a facility. I truly am trying to warn everybody about the realities of this place. Kim tries to portray a high quality barn, but looks can be deceiving. She's a CONTROL FREAK! read more

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Great place to have my horse. Clean and well kept environment run by caring people!!

After having my horses on my own place for 20 years I was worried about going back to boarding. Fortunately I found Forbes Ranch where they take care of my horses like they are their own and I never have to worry. Clean, horse friendly, great amenities and drama free. A great place for my horses to live and me to hang out with them. read more

Forbes Ranch is the best boarding facility in the KC metro! The previous review is totally untrue. What "J" fails to say firstly, is that she brought 2 horses to be boarded after her first horse was injured. In fact he was injured when he arrived at the facility. I also have had 3 horses boarded there and have never seen,or heard of hock burns, problems with the automatic waterers or moldy hay. I have seen the owner spend her own money on medication and treatments for boarded horses. No charge to spend her time doing treatments if needed. Regularly checking on horses at all hours of the night, especially during bad weather. She spent half the night sitting with an owner when her horse had severe allergic reaction to yearly vaccinations. Owners also come and interact with their horses as they would at any barn. People work and have other demands on their time. Just because j didn't observe them doesn't mean they don't come. But if I couldn't personally come as often as I would like, I can't think of a better place for my horse to be. The horses get the best of care and the owners are kept updated in a very timely manner either by personal phone calls or via group text line. Every request I have made has been addressed in a very timely manner. Every effort is made to put horses together in turnout that get along well with each other. To my knowledge, there has never been an "aggressive bunch". As any horse owner knows, it sometimes takes a little tweaking to get the right group together. It is also true that horses are notorious for getting themselves into trouble. They run, kick up their heels, bite at each other, and hurt themselves and each other. My horse gets little "love" bites on occasion, but he is totally happy with turnout buddy. They are side by side all the time! I hope I have given you a different view of Forbes. I couldn't be happier with the care they provide. Come by and talk with some of the owners and get the real picture of this wonderful facility! read more